The Inquiring Mind

On Intellectual Virtues and Virtue Epistemology

Jason Baehr

Addresses key questions on the role of intellectual virtue in an analysis of knowledge

Offers the most extensive critique of a virtue-based account of knowledge to date

Establishes the theoretical agenda in virtue epistemology for years to come

The Inquiring Mind

On Intellectual Virtues and Virtue Epistemology

Jason Baehr

Description

The Inquiring Mind is a new contribution to "responsibilist" or character-based virtue-epistemology--an approach to epistemology in which intellectual character traits like open-mindedness, fair-mindedness, inquisitiveness, and intellectual courage, rigor, and generosity are given a central and fundamental role. Jason Baehr provides an accessible introduction to virtue epistemology and intellectual virtues, and establishes two main goals. The first is to shed light on the nature and structure of intellectual virtues and their role in the cognitive economy. To this end, he examines the difference between intellectual virtues and intellectual faculties, talents, temperaments, and skills, develops a "personal worth" account of the nature of an intellectual virtue, contrasts this account with several others, and provides analyses of two individual virtues: namely, open-mindedness and intellectual courage. The second main goal is to account for the role that reflection on intellectual character virtues should play within epistemology at large. Here Baehr defends three main claims. The first is that the concept of intellectual virtue does not merit a central or fundamental role within traditional epistemology. The second is that it does, nonetheless, merit a secondary or background role in this context. The third is that intellectual character virtues and their role in intellectual life can form the basis of an approach to epistemology that is distinct from but complementary to traditional epistemology. Finally, Baehr examines the relation between intellectual and moral virtues.

The Inquiring Mind

On Intellectual Virtues and Virtue Epistemology

Jason Baehr

Table of Contents

1. Introduction2. Intellectual Virtues3. Knowledge and Intellectual Virtue4. Virtue and Character in Reliabilism5. Evidentialism, Vice, and Virtue6. A Personal Worth Conception of Intellectual Virtue7. The Personal Worth Conception and Its Rivals8. Open-Mindedness9. Intellectual Courage10. The Status and Future of Character-Based Virtue EpistemologyAppendix: On the Distinction between Intellectual and Moral VirtuesReferencesIndex

The Inquiring Mind

On Intellectual Virtues and Virtue Epistemology

Jason Baehr

Author Information

Jason Baehr is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles. He works in the areas of epistemology and virtue theory. He lives with his wife and three children in Long Beach, CA.

The Inquiring Mind

On Intellectual Virtues and Virtue Epistemology

Jason Baehr

Reviews and Awards

"A sophisticated and articulate book that is valuable as both a survey of recent work in virtue epistemology and a contribution to that work itself."--CHOICE